“NO.”
He said that maybe louder than he meant to.
“Katelynn no. Don’t you ever think that!” he pulls back, holding her shoulders in his hands. “Please don’t ever think I’d be better without you! D-do you know where I’d be? I’d be here. Alone. Painting. Never going out. Never doing anything. I wouldn’t have my new friends, I wouldn’t know you, I wouldn’t know what being in love is like and I would think I’m fine but, but I NEED you. I’ve needed you my entire life.”
That was the final nail that broke the coffin as the saying goes, Katelynn’s face finally breaking down in quiet sobs at his admission. His love for her was that strong that he would allow himself to risk his life just to be with her, a girl who attracted villains? She had no idea something could be so strong.
“I-I’m sorry..! I’m sorry…I just..I keep making so many mistakes that I thought..I thought you were better without me..I-I didn’t know…I keep making mistakes with you..and my mother—”
She cut herself off, knowing he didn’t like hearing about her mother or hearing her talk about her.
“I-I am trying though..I am..it just never felt like enough..B-But..I’m sorry Jack..”
“It is enough Katelynn because you are what I need, what I want, what is enough.” he said quietly, brushing her face with his hands, wiping her tears before they fall too far down her cheeks. “Katelynn please… I love you, I love you so much… don’t e-ever be sorry for being you or doing what you do. Life, life is to make mistakes to learn from them… th-that’s how it works, isn’t it?”
He pulls her into his arms again, holding her close, trying to say so much in the simple gesture. “Th-that’s how life is… mistakes, but you pick y-yourself up like I did, a-and you move on…”
Jack Maple 